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San Francisco Giants vs. Los Angeles Dodgers: Position-by-Position Breakdown

By Jake Mastroianni
Sep 30, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager (5) head first slide safely into home against San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey (28) during the first inning at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 30, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager (5) head first slide safely into home against San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey (28) during the first inning at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports /
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San Francisco Giants
Mar 22, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; USA infielder Brandon Crawford (26) throws to first in the fifth inning against Puerto Rico during the 2017 World Baseball Classic at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

Shortstop 

This position is going to be very controversial between Giants and Dodgers fans. Both Brandon Crawford and Corey Seager are very talented shortstops, but one is better than the other right now.

Seager broke onto the scene last year hitting .308 with 105 runs, 26 home runs and 72 RBI with a .365 on-base-percentage. He won the Rookie of they Year award, the Silver Slugger award at shortstop, made his first All-Star appearance and finished third in the MVP voting.

The Dodger shortstop did all this at the age of 22, and will presumably just get better from here.

However, the importance of Crawford can’t be put into awards or numbers. Giants fans who watch Crawford on a daily basis know how important he is to this team.

As for his stats, last year he hit .275 with 67 runs, 11 home runs, 84 RBI and a .342 on-base-percentage. He also won his second straight Gold Glove award.

I think Seager has the better career, but right now I’ll take the veteran in Crawford for what he means to the Giants.

Advantage: Giants

Outfield 

This is where the Giants begin to make some ground. As much as Giants fans worry about left field, Dodgers fans need to worry about their entire outfield.

Both teams have question marks in left field. Andrew Toles is currently listed as the Dodgers’ starter, while the Giants are going with a platoon between Jarrett Parker and Chris Marrero.

I think the Giants have the better platoon there based on what Marrero has done in spring training. However, I think both teams make moves during the season to upgrade left field.

In center field Joc Pederson has pretty much become a home run or bust player for the Dodgers. Meanwhile, Denard Span is the perfect table-setter for the Giants lineup.

Neither center fielder is great defensively, but I still give Span the edge.

And then in right field it’s a pretty easy call with Hunter Pence. The soon-to-be 34-year-old has dealt with injuries the past two seasons, but when healthy he’s proven to be a solid middle of the order bat.

Yasiel Puig showed great potential early in his career but has faded away the past two seasons. There is a chance he figures it out and surpasses Pence eventually, but I’ll still take the Giants right fielder at this point.

Advantage: Giants

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